229th Review: LATIN AMERICA@WAR 8: AERIAL OPERATIONS IN THE REVOLUTIONS OF 1922 AND 1947 IN PARAGUAY. THE FIRST DOGFIGHTS IN SOUTH AMERICA- Antoinio Luis Sapienza

229th Review: LATIN AMERICA@WAR 8: AERIAL OPERATIONS IN THE REVOLUTIONS OF 1922 AND 1947 IN PARAGUAY. THE FIRST DOGFIGHTS IN SOUTH AMERICA- Antoinio Luis Sapienza

This pamphlet of 40 pages contains a nice collection colour prints of the planes that between 1922 en 1947 in Paraguay chose heaven. The historiography of this period is known territory for the ones that remember the Tintin album ‘The broken ear”.

Herge clearly got inspired from this period in Paraguay with revolutions and a border war with Bolivia. Even till the names of the in operetta uniforms dressed ‘generals’, who in that rural period jumped up as mushrooms. If the number of victims, more than 100.000 deceased and homeless, had not be so dramatic for such a small and thinly populated country, it would have been a tragicomically incident. Now it became a disaster for upcoming Paraguay.

A parallel with Nicaragua is that when an army turns itself against the population, the army will bite the dust in the end. Same happened in Paraguay. Although the use of planes only is a footnote in this history, this is what the pamphlet mainly displays.

Fans enough there were, to fly the available coming planes. Especially the Italy of Mussolini was very willing to export her flying products to South America, if necessary even with former WO I pilots! The adventure attracted many unemployed war pilots to these battle grounds, as long as there were planes available. If there seemed to be a ‘left’ coloured battling party the USA was quickly there to provide the other party of military material and teachers. Of course the number of victims rose exceptional because of this.

To be short, a rather depressing report of a part South American history. For the rest with lots of names, reports of flight plans, tons of photos and the already mentioned colour prints. Fun for the fans of details.